Contributions of new/better locations to Pleiades
When we open Pleiades to user contributions, we expect high-resolution coordinates to be of immediate interest to the user community, not least because of the availability (via Google Earth etc.) of high-resolution remotely sensed imagery. Increasing ubiquity of handheld GPS will also encourage contributions. Consider the present precision of our legacy dataset: DataPrecisionAndAccuracy. See also separate section on GeospatialMetadataRequirements.
Here we address the question "What specifically do we use for the 'location' of a settlement or site?"
- for prominent, large, well-known settlements and other extensive features (like Rome or Athens say), we prefer the centroid of the lead/prominent temple (e.g., capitolium at Rome, parthenon at Athens); or as close to the centroid of same as possible
- even though we're not going to store archaeological plans, we may benefit from having the locations of various landmarks within large cities
- editors will be responsible for working with contributors, and assessing community opinion about the value of "sub-site" locations and balancing the challenges of large, complex aggregations and good data against needs for consistency across the dataset
- failing appropriate, non-ambiguous features for the above, we choose the centroid of the agora, forum or other central public place (or as close as possible);
- failing that, we choose estimated or surveyed centroid of excavated or surveyed area
- failing that, centroid most prominent exposed remains
- failing that, modern civic center
In all cases, contributors sourcing coordinates on-site using hand-held GPS are admonished to respect both customary and posted restrictions on site and monument access and to avoid causing damage or the appearance of damage to ancient remains or natural features.
